WEBVTT HAD APROCEDURE, AND NOW HE IS ON HISWAY TO HEALING.MALLORY LANE TALKED TO THE VETWHO HELPED HIM.MALLORY: THE VET WHO TREATEDFIGARO SAYS HE'S DOING GREAT ANDEXPECTS HE COULD BE READY FOR AFOREVER HOME IN JUST A COUPLE OFMONTHS.[BARKING]>> HE'S VERY HAPPY, HIS TAIL'SWAGGING.MALLORY: LOOKING AT FIGARO NOW-->> HE JUST WANTS TO BE A BIGCUDDLE BUDDY.MALLORY: YOU'D NEVER KNOW THISONE-YEAR-OLD PUP WAS LEFT WITHAN INFECTED, EMBEDDED COLLARLITERALLY GROWING INTO HIS SKIN.MINDY FAIRCLOTH IS PLEASED WITHHIS PROGNOSIS.>> IT'S HEARTWARMING TO KNOWTHAT A DOG CAN GO THROUGH THEDRAMATIC EXPERIENCE THAT HE HASGONE THROUGH, AND STILL COME OUTSO LOVING AND FORGIVING.MALLORY: DR. SANDRA MCAVOYOPERATED ON FIGARO.RIGHT NOW, SHE'S TREATING HISWOUND WITH ANTIBIOTICS.SHE EXPECTS TO CLOSE THE WOUNDONCE FIGARO IS HEALTHIER ANDDE-WORMED.SHE HOPES HIS STORY WILL BE ALESSON FOR OTHERS.>> THE BIGGEST THING IS JUST TOBE CONSCIOUS OF YOUR DOG.BE PAYING ATTENTION TO IT.IF YOU'RE FINDING THAT YOU DON'THAVE THE TIME TO EVEN CHECK ITSCOLLAR, MAYBE YOU SHOULD THINKABOUT FINDING IT A DIFFERENTHOME, SOMEONE WHO COULD SPENMORE TIME WITH IT AND GIVE IT ABETTER LIFE.MALLORY: ONCE FIGARO IS FULLYRECOVERED, HE WILL BE PUT UP FORADOPTION.IN THE MEANTIME, THE DAVIDSONCOUNTY ANIMAL ALLIANCE ISLOOKING FOR A FOSTER HOME.IF YOU'RE INTERESTED, WE HAVE

An extreme case of animal cruelty is under investigation by the Davidson County Sheriff's Office after a dog was found badly abused.

Authorities are trying to find the person responsible for leaving the dog attached to a chain, that created an embedded collar on Figaro, a 1-year-old hound mix.

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Mindy Faircloth, a volunteer with the Davidson County Animal Alliance, said it's the worse case she's ever seen. She was speechless when she saw the dog.

Figaro was surrendered to animal control officials by someone who claims not be his owner.

WARNING: The photos of Figaro's injuries are graphic.

The veterinarian estimates the collar has been on the dog since he was a puppy.

“The dog has grown around the collar, it’s basically choking him,” Faircloth said. "As soon as the shelter director saw the condition the dog was in, she knew it immediately knew it needed help.”

Faircloth said the chain was so far embedded into Figaro's skin, the vet couldn't just cut it off and a veterinary procedure was the only option. The wound was also infected.

“It’s dug into the skin, the meat, the flesh is actually growing through the links of the chain," Faircloth said. “There are sections of this dog’s neck that you can’t even see.”

Faircloth said she doesn't know Figaro's history, but said someone was taking care of him because he isn't malnourished.

Figaro's surgery wrapped up Tuesday afternoon.

Dr. Sandra McAvoy, who operated on Figaro, said Wednesday morning that Figaro's surgery was success. The dog is being treated with antibiotics for the infection. She expects to close the wound once Figaro is healthier and de-wormed.

She hopes his story will be a lesson for others.

"The biggest thing is just to be conscious of your dog. Be paying attention to it," Dr. McAvoy said. "If you're finding that you don't even have time to check its collar, maybe you should think about finding it a different home, someone who could spend more time with it, give it a better life."

Volunteers believe Figaro will be ready for his forever home in a couple months.

“It’s heartwarming to know what a dog can go through the traumatic experience that he has gone through and still come out so loving and forgiving," Faircloth said.

In the meantime, the Davidson County Animal Alliance is looking for a foster home for him.

Anyone interested in fostering Figaro is asked to send an email to

dcanimalalliance@gmail.com.

Anyone who knows Figaro's owner is asked to call the Davidson County Sheriff's Office or the Davidson County Animal Shelter.